Beauty Editor's Pick of the Week: Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balms

This week we've chosen to focus on an amazing product that is loved by socialites and celebrities alike.  Sold in some of the finest spas, these are truly unique balms that blur the boundaries between fragrance, skin care, and hair care.  Want to get in on the action?

Behold, perfumery's oldest tradition!  Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balms are highly fragrant, solid perfume balms, hand-poured into unique solid stone cubes (which are ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS in-person!) They contain aromatherapeutic, floral extracts and essential oils in a conditioning shea butter & beeswax formula.

Unlike traditional perfumes, these can be used in a number of new and exciting ways!  Try them as a fragrance on your pulse points, for deep conditioning on dry areas (such as cuticles, feet & elbows), or as a pomade to add scent and brilliance to hair.  Imagine the possibilities!

Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balms are available in the following, positively dreamy scents:

WATER - Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balm in Water embodies all that is refreshing and restoring with notes of Linden Blossom, Coriander, Lemon and Mint. It's about reenergizing the mind and body. It's about giving into the urge to submerse yourself in...WATER.


 
 
 

 

 

 

SUN - Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balm in Sun embodies all that is warming and gentle. Sun blends notes of Vanilla, Sweet Orange, Sandalwood and Pink Grapefruit in tribute to the kindness and warmth that radiates from a mother's beautiful heart, like the rays of the ... SUN.

 
 
 

 

 

 

PETAL - Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balm in Petal is about complete innocence, loving yourself, and the rebirth of femininity. Petal blends notes of Lily of the Valley, Freesia, Lemon and Fresh Rain Accord to create a light floral scent that celebrates the very essence of being a woman, soft and gentle like a flower... PETAL.

 
 
 
 

 
 
FRESH - Zents Concreta Solid Perfume Balm in Fresh is about about feeling young, energized, beautiful, feminine and ... FRESH! Fresh has top notes of cucumber and green apple, with linden and heliotrope blended to create a euphoric fragrance that is soft and feminine.



 
 
 
 
 
Renew your body and mind with these multifunctional, deep-conditioning fragrance balms from Zents.  Deliver a one-two punch to the winter blahs: aromatherapeutic oils help to improve your outlook, while high quality conditioners help to improve the look and condition of your skin and hair!  What could be better than that?

Get Up and Get Glowing! 10 Great Radiance Boosters to try in 2011

Photo Courtesy of Gawker.com

Want to look younger, fresher and heathier in 2011?  One of the easiest ways to achieve that goal is to increase your radiance!  Whether it's your hair, skin or lips, light-reflection is key.  Dull, dry and flaky is SO 2010.  With so many radiance-boosting options from skin care to cosmetics, there is no reason you can't glow your way through the winter, and have heads a turnin' while you do it! 

So here they are, my top 10 picks for getting your glow on:

1.  Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser

What it is:  An exfoliating cleanser that increases brightness and clarity of the skin.

How it works:  A trio of gentle exfoliating acids, Salicylic, Lactic and Glycolic,  provide clarity, brightness and improve cell-turnover by dissolving dead skin cell buildup. Jojoba beads further polish and smooth skin. Sodium PCA and Jojoba Seed Oil boost hydration. Licorice Extract reduces irritation and inflammation.


2.  Energie Vitale Masque Hydratant Peau Radiante

What it is:  A skin brightening moisture mask to be used whenever skin needs a hydrating boost!

How it works:  Made with the finest essential oils, including Eucalyptus, Avocado and Lavender, this heavenly mask works to penetrate pores with soothing moisture.  Superior hydration means brighter-looking, dewier skin.

Bonus: Aromatherapeutic benefits abound.  It's relaxing fragrance brings the spa to you!


3.  Madeleine Mono Act 3 Fountain of Youth Rejuvenating Moisture Cream

What it is:  A multi-faceted moisturizing cream.

How it works:  Grape seed, macadamia nut and rice bran oils nourish skin, while shea butter hydrates and softens.  Licorice root extract works to enhance brightness, and skin-loving Vitamins A and E preserve and protect.  The result?  A more radiant-looking you!


4.  Garden Botanika Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Treatment

What it is:  A rich eye cream that has been touted as a natural alternative to injectables. 

How it works:  A patented peptide (these are ALL the rage, right now) and an amino acid called Arginine work to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Red Wine Polyphenols and Green Tea Extract provide the ultimate antioxidant protection, while a combination of ceramides, Shea Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil and Hyaluronic Acid moisturize the delicate skin around the eye area. A host of botanical extracts naturally lighten AND brighten, so eyes have a fresher, younger appearance.

Bonus:  This wonder-cream contains no fragrance or artificial dyes!


5.  Jean-Michelle Lotion Peau Brillante - Skin Brightening Lotion

What it is:  A moisturizing lotion that works to give you more radiant-looking skin.

How it works:  Gentle exfoliants help to refine skin and create a more youthful-looking complexion while skin-nourishing ingredients hydrate and protect.


6.  Sistina Radiante Face Tint

What it is:  A lightly tinted cream that creates even-looking skin with a healthy glow!

How it works:  A touch of color adds warmth and radiance while a bevy of vitamins and antioxidants work to protect skin from the elements.


7.  Pur Minerals Hot Rocks

What it is:  A blend of micronized minerals in a multidimensional, universally-flattering shade.

How it works:  A luminous combination of pink and pearl pigments add warmth and radiance to the skin.  Brighten eyes, lips and cheeks with a quick swirl of your brush!   


8.  Sara St. James Easy Color Bronzing Powder

What it is:  A natural-looking, light-reflective bronzing powder.

How it works:  Warm bronze undertones add instant warmth and dimension to the skin while subtle shimmer creates the look of a healthy, radiant complexion.


9.  Diandra Luminous Lipcolor Collection

What it is:  Three creamy, delicious lip colors in a sleek, mirrored compact.  Brush included!

How it works:  Pure beeswax protects lips to help keep them smooth and beautiful, while gorgeous color and a soft pearlescence add depth and a healthy luminosity.


10.  Zents Sun - Concreta Solid Perfume Balm

What it is:  A highly fragrant, solid perfume balm hand-poured into a unique, solid stone cube.

How it works:  A stirring blend of Vanilla, Sandalwood, Pink Orange and Grapefruit, this sun-drenched scent helps to increase your radiance from the inside out.  What better way to improve your mood than with a warm, feel good fragrance?  Happy people are naturally more radiant! 

Bonus:  With shea butter and beeswax, this amazing product can also be used as a skin conditioner and hair pomade!

Be a ray of sunshine all winter long with these fantastic, glow-getters!  Find all of these radiance-boosting wonders and more at Cosmetique.com. 

Beauty Editor's Pick of the Week: Zents Bath Salts

We're spotlighting our fabulous bath and body products this month so I wanted to tell you about one of my absolute favorite brands!  Available in the finest boutiques, hotels and spas around the world (and, of course, at cosmetique.com!) Zents prides themselves on creating the finest fragrance and bath and body products.  Since our theme for July is rub-a-dub-dub, I want to talk about their marvelous bath salts which Cosmetique carries in 4 nature-inspired scents...

Water - Water embodies all that is refreshing and restoring. Water has notes of Linden Blossom, Coriander, Lemon and Mint to reenergize the mind and body. It's about giving into the urge to submerse yourself in...water.

Sun - Sun is inspired by all that is warming and gentle. Sun blends notes of Vanilla, Sweet Orange, Sandalwood and Pink Grapefruit in tribute to the kindness and warmth that radiates from a mother's beautiful heart, like the rays of the sun.

Petal - Petal is about complete innocence, loving yourself, and the rebirth of femininity. Petal blends notes of Lily of the Valley, Freesia, Lemon and Fresh Rain Accord to create a light floral scent that celebrates the very essence of being a woman, soft and gentle like a flower.

Fresh - Fresh is about about feeling young, energized, beautiful, feminine and ... FRESH!   It has top notes of Cucumber and Green Apple, with Linden and Heliotrope blended to create a euphoric fragrance that is soft and feminine.

What better to way to relax after a long day's work than with a nice, fragrant bath?  These bath salts are made using the finest ingredients, and truly provide a rejuvenating, spa-like experience in your home.  If you need a little pick-me-up, or a way to wind down after a stressful day, a lightly-scented soak could be just what the doctor ordered!

Top 10 Tips for the Perfect Exfoliation

Photo Courtesy of therealisticcook.com

Oh, to have perfect, smooth skin...must be nice, huh?  While we can't all have perfect skin over every inch of our bodies, there are a number of things we can do to improve the tone and texture of our body skin.  One of the most (if not THE most) important steps you can take towards achieving the skin of your dreams, is to exfoliate.  This process removes dead cells from the skin's surface, uncovering fresh, smooth skin.  Removing this layer of dead cells also allows for better penetration of your other skin care products.  Bottom line:  If you're not doing it, you should be....And to get you started, I've compiled a list of 10 fantastic tips sure to make exfoliating a breeze!  Here they are:


1. Apply exfoliating scrub to wet skin for best results, particularly if your skin is sensitive.




2. Use approximately 3 tablespoons of scrub for your body. My current favorite:
Garden Botanika Fresh Mint Whipped Body Buffer.

3. Always exfoliate from the top of your body down, starting with the shoulders. Be sure to use a separate, gentle exfoliator for your delicate facial skin. I like H20 Plus Sea Pure Gentle Refining Polish.

4. Pay extra attention to areas with thicker skin like elbows, knees, and heels which can be especially rough.



5. Massage your entire body with the scrub using circular motions for the most thorough exfoliation.



6. Always exfoliate thoroughly before shaving as dead skin can clog and dull your razor.



7. Don’t forget your feet! Sometimes these require a little extra effort, but it's so worth it!



8. Rinse thoroughly when finished. You’re not only rinsing off the scrub, you’re rinsing off all that dead skin with it!



9. When you get out of the shower, pat dry – do not rub.  You want your skin to still be a bit damp for this next step...



10. Apply a rich moisturizer to seal in all the moisture your skin just soaked up from the shower. Plus, moisturizers are most effective when applied to fresh, new skin. Try Zents Lotion in Water or any of their other great scents for soothing moisture and an amazingly fresh scent!

5 Easy Ways to Get Gorgeous for Summer!

I could NOT be any more excited that summer is here! It is absolutely, hands-down, my favorite time of the year and I’ve been looking forward to it since LAST summer! Now, it’s time to forget about covering up with sweaters and jeans, and time to start thinking about baring it all in sundresses, shorts and bathing suits…Yikes! There are some simple, easy ways to prepare yourself for less clothing and more fun…and they’re all right here! Read on for tips on how to get gorgeous, and stay gorgeous all summer long…

Step 1

Time to slough off that dead winter skin and get ready to get your glow on! The first step is a nice thorough body exfoliation which should be repeated approximately twice a week. H20 Plus Sea Pure Reviving Body Buffer provides a great exfoliation with sea salt, while conditioning the skin with lavender and olive oil. Rub this 100% natural scrub gently in a circular motion over your entire body for glowing summer skin!

Step 2

Moisturize! You should moisturize regardless of season but the thought of showing more skin seems to make this step all the more compelling…For fast-absorbing, summery-smelling hydration, try Zents Sun Lotion. It is packed full of skin-conditioning ingredients like Shea Butter, Green Tea and Chamomile, and smells like summer itself, with notes of Vanilla, Sweet Orange, Pink Grapefruit and Sandalwood.


Step 3

This is the MOST important step for health reasons…You must wear sunscreen all over! There are a lot of options, but here are a few of my favorites….

If you need a little help in the bronzing department, try Murad Firming Bronzer SPF 15 for Face and Body. This amazing lotion provides sun protection, firming power and gentle bronzing for a HEALTHY summer glow.

For extra protection, you may want to try Murad Waterproof Sunblock SPF 30 if you’re active, or Murad Oil-Free Sunblock SPF 30 if you’re oily or acne-prone.

And don’t forget your lips! The skin on your lips is very sensitive and should be protected from the elements. Try Murad Energizing Pomegranate Lip Therapy SPF 15 for shiny, healthy summer lips.


Step 4

Shave up! I’m not gonna lie, I may have skipped a shave here and there over the winter. It’s hard to get motivated when you’re wearing long pants everyday, but those days are over! It’s shaving season and I have one excellent multi-tasking tip for you. Try using hair conditioner as your “shaving cream.” It provides excellent slip for the razor and contains ingredients that are just as good for your skin as they are for your hair! I like Garden Botanika Fresh Mint Conditioner for summer because of its conditioning properties and its awesome, chilly scent.


Step 5

It’s time for a pedicure. This is another one of those beauty rituals that may have gotten tossed to the wayside over the winter. Now that it’s sandal season, we need to get those feet under control. After you’ve exfoliated them in the shower with your scrub, you need an ultra-intensive moisturizer created especially for your feet. Garden Botanika High Intensity Foot Treatment cools, stimulates, and hydrates overworked feet. Gentle exfoliating fruit acids soften callouses, polish rough heels and remove dry skin. Hydrating Glycerin and Panthenol moisturize for perfect summer-ready feet.

Don’t forget the polish! Summer provides an excellent opportunity to experiment with bold colors on your toes. My favorite is Jean-Michelle Laque Luisant Nail Enamel in Moulin Rouge. It’s a beautiful red, PERFECT for summer toes!

Photo Courtesy of Sheknows.com